Coast Guard rescues 5 as fishing vessel sinks

SITKA - A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued five people who called for help after their 34-foot fishing vessel began sinking in the waters of Southeast Alaska.

The agency says it received the radio call from the Petersburg-based Sandy M at about 10 a.m. Saturday reporting that they were taking on water and planning to abandon ship.

The Sitka-based helicopter crew was diverted from a community relations mission and arrived on-scene in about 40 minutes to find three of the crew members in a life boat and two in the water, amid 40 mph winds and 6- to 8-foot seas.

All five were taken to emergency medical services in Sitka. There was no immediate word on their condition.

A Coast Guard cutter crew was dispatched to evaluate any environmental or navigation threat posed by the sinking boat.